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In a world dominated by online surveys and mobile-first feedback tools, computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) might seem like a relic. But for many market researchers, especially those running B2B, political, healthcare, or hard-to-reach consumer studies, CATI remains essential.
The reason is simple: when you need deeper responses, better response rates, or stricter control over your sample, nothing beats a trained interviewer having a live conversation—with the efficiency and consistency of software guiding the process. But like every part of the research stack, CATI is evolving. Fast.
And AI is at the center of that change.
CATI stands for Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing. It's a method of conducting structured surveys over the phone, where interviewers use software to:
Good CATI software blends productivity with precision. It helps teams scale phone interviews, ensure data quality, and streamline reporting—without compromising the human touch that makes phone research effective.
But with increasing pressure to collect insights faster and more cost-effectively, traditional CATI platforms are now being challenged by AI-powered tools.
Imagine running phone interviews without needing live interviewers for every session. AI can now simulate real-time phone calls, ask open-ended questions with natural flow, and transcribe and analyze responses instantly.
Tools like Usercall have introduced a new hybrid: AI-moderated voice interviews that combine the depth of CATI with the scale of surveys. For example, a product manager can launch 100 voice interviews overnight across multiple segments—with AI handling follow-ups, transcriptions, and even auto-tagging themes and quotes.
While traditional CATI software requires scheduling, staffing, and manual QA, AI-first tools reduce costs, remove bottlenecks, and open up voice-based insights to teams that previously couldn’t afford them.
Researcher POV:
When we needed voice insights fast during a prototype test, Usercall let us collect 40 interviews across 3 countries in one day—no scheduling, just instant AI conversations with rich qualitative output. That would’ve taken us 2–3 weeks via traditional CATI.
IdSurvey remains one of the most robust CATI systems for enterprise-grade teams. It offers flexibility for multi-channel projects, making it a great choice if you're managing dozens of interviewers and multiple languages.
Voxco excels when you need tight control over sampling and compliance, and still want to run multi-mode projects in a single ecosystem.
Nebu shines in managing interviewer performance and survey logic complexity. The tool feels tailored to high-volume, insights-focused teams that want granular control.
SurveySystem has been around for decades—and while it may not be flashy, it gets the job done. If you need a solid CATI system without a huge learning curve, this is a practical option.
We’re entering a hybrid era.
For complex, regulated, or highly sensitive topics, live CATI interviews still hold value. But for discovery research, product feedback, or qualitative depth at speed—AI-moderated tools like Usercall are showing how voice-based insights can scale without traditional bottlenecks.
It’s no longer about choosing between phone and survey—it’s about blending the best of both.
CATI isn’t dead—it’s evolving. From classic call centers to AI-powered voice interviews, today’s tools offer flexibility across budget, scale, and use case. If you’re running qualitative or mixed-mode research in 2025, look beyond the usual suspects. You might find your next breakthrough in a tool that doesn’t require a single dialed call.
